Undamped Free Vibration MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Undamped Free Vibration - Download Free PDF

Last updated on Jun 10, 2025

Latest Undamped Free Vibration MCQ Objective Questions

Undamped Free Vibration Question 1:

Which of the following is correct for a flexible shaft?

  1. It has very low rigidity both in bending and torsion.
  2. It has very high rigidity in bending and low rigidity in torsion.
  3. It has low rigidity in bending and high rigidity in torsion.
  4. It has very high rigidity both in bending and torsion.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : It has low rigidity in bending and high rigidity in torsion.

Undamped Free Vibration Question 1 Detailed Solution

Explanation:

Flexible Shaft

  • A flexible shaft is a type of mechanical component that is specifically designed to transmit rotary motion and torque efficiently between two points that may not be perfectly aligned. It consists of a flexible core that allows it to bend and twist, making it suitable for applications where rigid shafts would be impractical or impossible to use.
  • The flexible shaft is made up of a series of tightly wound helical coils, which provide the necessary flexibility and strength to transmit torque. These coils allow the shaft to bend and adapt to changes in alignment while maintaining its ability to rotate. The design ensures low bending rigidity while maintaining relatively high torsional rigidity, allowing the shaft to twist without significant loss of torque transmission.

Advantages:

  • Ability to transmit motion and torque around obstacles or in confined spaces.
  • Lightweight and compact design compared to rigid shafts.
  • High torsional strength while being flexible in bending.
  • Reduces the need for precise alignment of components.

Disadvantages:

  • Not suitable for applications requiring extremely high torque or bending loads.
  • May experience wear and tear over time due to constant bending and twisting.
  • Limited in length and load-carrying capacity compared to rigid shafts.

Applications: Flexible shafts are commonly used in applications such as power tools, automotive speedometers, dental equipment, and various industrial machines where motion needs to be transmitted in a flexible and adaptable manner.

Undamped Free Vibration Question 2:

For small value of damping ratio (ξ), the dynamic magnification factor at resonance is given by:

  1. 2/3ξ
  2. 1/3ξ
  3. 1/2ξ
  4. 3/2ξ

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 1/2ξ

Undamped Free Vibration Question 2 Detailed Solution

Concept:

When a mechanical system is subjected to harmonic excitation, the response of the system is influenced by the excitation frequency and the damping present.

The ratio of the amplitude of the system's response to the static deflection under the same force is called the Dynamic Magnification Factor (DMF).

General Formula:

\( \text{DMF} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{(1 - r^2)^2 + (2\xi r)^2}} \)

Where,
\( r = \frac{\omega}{\omega_n} \) is the frequency ratio
\( \xi \) is the damping ratio.

At Resonance:

At resonance, excitation frequency equals natural frequency, i.e., \( \omega = \omega_n \Rightarrow r = 1 \).

Substitute in the equation:

\( \text{DMF}_{\text{resonance}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{(1 - 1)^2 + (2\xi)^2}} = \frac{1}{2\xi} \)

Undamped Free Vibration Question 3:

A rotor has a mass of 12 kg and is mounted midway on a horizontal shaft which is supported at the ends by two bearings (assumed as simply supported). The bearings are 1 m apart. What will be the critical (whirling) speed of the shaft? [EI = 4 kN - m2, g = 10 m/s2]

  1. 40\(\sqrt{10}\) rad/s
  2. 300 rad/s
  3. 400 rad/s
  4. 30\(\sqrt{10}\) rad/s

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 40\(\sqrt{10}\) rad/s

Undamped Free Vibration Question 3 Detailed Solution

Concept:

For a simply supported shaft with a rotor (concentrated mass) at the center, the critical (whirling) speed is determined using the relation:

\( \omega = \sqrt{\frac{g}{\delta}} \)

Where, \( \delta \) is the static deflection due to the weight of the rotor.

Static deflection at center of simply supported shaft due to point load is given by:

\( \delta = \frac{W L^3}{48 EI} \)

Calculation:

Given:

Mass of rotor, \(m = 12~kg, so ~weight, W = mg = 12 \times 10 = 120~N\)

Span of shaft, \(L = 1~m, ~EI = 4~kN\cdot m^2 = 4000~N\cdot m^2\)

Substitute in deflection formula:

\( \delta = \frac{120 \times 1^3}{48 \times 4000} = \frac{120}{192000} = \frac{1}{1600}~m \)

Now, critical speed:

\( \omega = \sqrt{\frac{g}{\delta}} = \sqrt{10 \times 1600} = \sqrt{16000} = 40\sqrt{10}~rad/s \)

 

Undamped Free Vibration Question 4:

For a spring system designed to absorb energy, which of the following changes would most effectively increase the energy absorption capacity without altering the spring's stiffness (k)? 

  1. Decreasing the spring's free length.  
  2. Decreasing the number of coils. 
  3. Increasing the spring's free length. 
  4. Using a material with a higher modulus of elasticity. 

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : Increasing the spring's free length. 

Undamped Free Vibration Question 4 Detailed Solution

Concept:

The energy absorbed by a spring is given by the formula:

\(U = \frac{1}{2} k x^2\)

Where, U is the energy stored, k is the stiffness of the spring, and x is the deflection from its natural (free) length.

Calculation:

To increase the energy absorption capacity without changing the stiffness k, we need to increase the value of x, i.e., the maximum allowable deflection of the spring.

By increasing the spring's free length, the spring can be deflected more before reaching its solid height (fully compressed condition), allowing more energy to be absorbed.

Undamped Free Vibration Question 5:

For the spring system given in the figure, the equivalent stiffness is

F1 Ashik Madhu 23.12.20 D1

  1. 0.4 k
  2. 4 k
  3. 2.5 k
  4. k

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 0.4 k

Undamped Free Vibration Question 5 Detailed Solution

Concept:

Springs in series:

\(\frac{1}{{{k_e}}} = \frac{1}{{{k_1}}} + \frac{1}{{{k_2}}} \)

Springs in parallel:

ke = k1 + k2

Calculation:

Given:

Springs with spring constant k and k are connected in parallel,

Let their equivalent spring constant be k1

k1 = k + k

k1 = 2k

Now k1, k and k are in series connection, let their equivalent spring constant is keq

\(\frac{1}{{{k_{eq}}}} = \frac{1}{{k_e}} + \frac{1}{{k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} \)

\(\frac{1}{{{k_{eq}}}} = \frac{1}{{2k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} \)

\(\frac{1}{k_{eq}}=\frac{1+2+2}{2k}\)

\(\frac{1}{k_{eq}}=\frac{5}{2k}\)

\(k_{eq}=\frac{2k}{5}\)

keq = 0.4 k

Top Undamped Free Vibration MCQ Objective Questions

For the spring system given in the figure, the equivalent stiffness is

F1 Ashik Madhu 23.12.20 D1

  1. 0.4 k
  2. 4 k
  3. 2.5 k
  4. k

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 0.4 k

Undamped Free Vibration Question 6 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

Springs in series:

\(\frac{1}{{{k_e}}} = \frac{1}{{{k_1}}} + \frac{1}{{{k_2}}} \)

Springs in parallel:

ke = k1 + k2

Calculation:

Given:

Springs with spring constant k and k are connected in parallel,

Let their equivalent spring constant be k1

k1 = k + k

k1 = 2k

Now k1, k and k are in series connection, let their equivalent spring constant is keq

\(\frac{1}{{{k_{eq}}}} = \frac{1}{{k_e}} + \frac{1}{{k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} \)

\(\frac{1}{{{k_{eq}}}} = \frac{1}{{2k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} + \frac{1}{{k}} \)

\(\frac{1}{k_{eq}}=\frac{1+2+2}{2k}\)

\(\frac{1}{k_{eq}}=\frac{5}{2k}\)

\(k_{eq}=\frac{2k}{5}\)

keq = 0.4 k

A pendulum clock calibrated at earth’s surface will read on the surface of the moon (acceleration due to gravity on the moon is 1/6th of that on earth)

  1. Identically the same
  2. \(\sqrt {6}\)  times faster
  3. \(\sqrt {6}\) times slower
  4. 6 times faster

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : \(\sqrt {6}\) times slower

Undamped Free Vibration Question 7 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

\(Time~ Period= T =2\pi √{\frac Lg}\)

where L = Length of the pendulum, g = acceleration due to gravity

Calculation:

Given:

at moon 

\(g'=\frac g6\)

where g' = acceleration due to gravity at the moon

\(New~Time~ Period= T' =2\pi √ {\frac L{g'}}=2\pi √ {\frac {6L}g}\)

 \(T'=√ {6}T\)

As time period for oscillation increases √6 times, therefore speed becomes √6 times slower.

The natural frequency of the spring mass system shown in the figure is closest to

GATE - 2008 M.E Images Q35

  1. 8 Hz
  2. 10 Hz
  3. 12 Hz
  4. 14 Hz

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 10 Hz

Undamped Free Vibration Question 8 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

05.05.2018.0.11

When spring is connected in parallel as shown, the equivalent stiffness is the sum of all individual stiffness of spring.

keq = k1 + k2

The natural frequency ωn of a spring-mass system is given by:

\(\omega_n=\sqrt{\frac{k_{eq}}{m}}\;\;\; and\;\;\;\omega_n=2\pi f\)

keq = equivalent stiffness and m = mass of body.

Calculation:

Given:

k1 = 4000 N/m, k2 = 1600 N/m and m = 1.4 kg

Springs are in parallel correction

GATE - 2008 M.E Images Q35gg

∴ keq = k1 + k2 = 4000 + 1600 = 5600 N/m

\(ω_n = \sqrt {\frac{k_{eq}}{{m}}}\Rightarrow \sqrt {\frac{{5600}}{{1.4}}} = \sqrt {4000} \)

\(f = \frac{ω_n}{{2\pi }} \Rightarrow \frac{{\sqrt {4000} }}{{2\pi }} \approx 10\;Hz\)

Which of the following parameters has higher value during whirling of a shaft?

  1. Speed
  2. Acceleration
  3. Frequency
  4. Amplitude

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Amplitude

Undamped Free Vibration Question 9 Detailed Solution

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Explanation:-

Critical or whirling speed of a shaft

  • When the rotational speed of the system coincides with the natural frequency of lateral/transverse vibrations, the shaft tends to bow out with a large amplitude. This speed is termed as critical/whirling speed.
  • Whirling speed or Critical speed of a shaft is defined as the speed at which a rotating shaft will tend to vibrate violently in the transverse direction if the shaft rotates in the horizontal direction.
  • In other words, the whirling or critical speed is the speed at which resonance occurs.
  • Hence we can say that Whirling of the shaft occurs when the natural frequency of transverse vibration matches the frequency of a rotating shaft.
  • It is the speed at which the shaft runs so that the additional deflection of the shaft from the axis of rotation becomes infinite is known as critical or whirling speed.

F1 Ashiq 21.9.20 Pallavi D4

Deflection of the shaft due to transverse vibration of the shaft.

\(y = \frac{e}{{{{\left( {\frac{{{\omega _n}}}{\omega }} \right)}^2} - 1\;}}\)

26 June 1

At critical speed,

\(\omega = {\omega _n} = \sqrt {\frac{k}{m}} = \sqrt {\frac{g}{\delta }} \)

where,

ω = Angular velocity of the shaft, k = Stiffness of shaft, e = initial eccentricity of the center of mass of the rotor

m = mass of rotor, y = additional of rotor due to centrifugal force.

In a single degree of freedom underdamped spring-mass-damper system as shown in the figure, an additional damper is added in parallel such that the system remains underdamped. Which one of the following statements is ALWAYS true?

TOM Vibration 1 GATE ME 2018

  1. Transmissibility will increase.                                     
  2. Transmissibility will decrease.
  3. Time period of free oscillations will increase.
  4. Time period of free oscillations will decrease.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : Time period of free oscillations will increase.

Undamped Free Vibration Question 10 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

TOM Vibration 1 GATE ME 2018-1

Transmissibility is given by:

\(\varepsilon = \frac{{\sqrt {1 + {{\left( {2\zeta \frac{\omega }{{{\omega _n}}}} \right)}^2}} }}{{\sqrt {{{\left[ {1 - {{\left( {\frac{\omega }{{{\omega _n}}}} \right)}^2}} \right]}^2} + {{\left[ {2\zeta \frac{\omega }{{{\omega _n}}}} \right]}^2}} }}\)

\(C = 2\zeta \sqrt {KM} \Rightarrow \zeta = \frac{C}{{2\sqrt {KM} }}\)

Calculation:

After additional damper in parallel \(\zeta ' = \frac{{C + C'}}{{2\sqrt {KM} }}\)

Thus  \(\zeta ' > \zeta \)

Now,  \({\omega _d} = {\omega _n}\sqrt {1 - {\zeta ^2}} \)  

 \(\zeta ' > \zeta \)indicating that \(\omega _d' < {\omega _d}\)

\(time\ period\left( {{T_d}} \right) = \frac{{2\pi }}{{{\omega _d}}}\)

Thus, the time period of free oscillation will increase.

Two rotors supported by a shaft has a natural frequency ωn If one of the rotors is fixed, the natural frequency

  1. increases
  2. decreases
  3. remains same
  4. becomes zero

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : decreases

Undamped Free Vibration Question 11 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

When both rotors are free to oscillate the node will be formed at the center (when the rotor is similar) but when one of the rotors is fixed the node will shift to the fixed end.

Calculation:

In the two-rotor system shown in figure

F1 Ateeb 22.1.20 Pallavi D5

ω1 = ω2

\(\sqrt {\frac{{{K_{t1}}}}{{{J_1}}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{{K_{t2}}}}{{{J_2}}}} \)

\({K_t} = \frac{{G{I_p}}}{L}\)

where, \({K_t}\) = torsional stiffness

We have, depending on the position of the node effective length will be

  • equal to L/2 when both rotors are free to oscillate.
  • equal to L when one of the rotors is fixed.

Hence, by fixing the rotor,

  • effective length increases.
  • Kt value will decrease.
  • natural frequency ωn will decrease.

The whirling speed of a rotating shaft is the same as the frequency of the shaft in.

  1. Natural transverse vibration
  2. Forced longitudinal vibration
  3. Natural longitudinal vibration
  4. Forced transverse vibration

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : Natural transverse vibration

Undamped Free Vibration Question 12 Detailed Solution

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Explanation:-

Critical or whirling speed of a shaft

  • When the rotational speed of the system coincides with the natural frequency of lateral/transverse vibrations, the shaft tends to bow out with a large amplitude. This speed is termed as critical/whirling speed.
  • Whirling speed or Critical speed of a shaft is defined as the speed at which a rotating shaft will tend to vibrate violently in the transverse direction if the shaft rotates in the horizontal direction.
  • In other words, the whirling or critical speed is the speed at which resonance occurs.
  • Hence we can say that whirling of the shaft occurs when the natural frequency of transverse vibration matches the frequency of a rotating shaft.
  • It is the speed at which the shaft runs so that the additional deflection of the shaft from the axis of rotation becomes infinite is known as critical or whirling speed.

F1 Ashiq 21.9.20 Pallavi D4

Rotating shaft’s tend to vibrate violently in ______ at critical speeds.

  1. Longitudinal direction 
  2. Transverse direction
  3. Torsional direction
  4. None of the above

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : Transverse direction

Undamped Free Vibration Question 13 Detailed Solution

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Explanation:

Vibration

Vibration is a periodic motion of small magnitude. But for sake of simplicity, we can assume it as a simple harmonic motion of small amplitude.

Transverse vibrations

  • When the particles of the shaft or disc move approximately perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, then the vibrations are known as transverse vibrations.
  • In this case, the shaft is straight and bent alternately and bending stresses are induced in the shaft.
  • Rotating shafts tend to vibrate violently in Transverse direction at critical speeds.

Longitudinal vibrations

  • When the particles of the shaft or disc move parallel to the axis of the shaft, then the vibrations are known as longitudinal vibrations.
  • In this case, the shaft is elongated and shortened alternately and thus the tensile and compressive stresses are induced alternately in the shaft.

Torsional vibrations

  • ·When the particles of the shaft or disc move in a circle about the axis of the shaft, then the vibrations are known as torsional vibrations.
  • ·In this case, the shaft is elongated and shortened alternately and thus the tensile and compressive stresses are induced alternately in the shaft.

26 June 1

Critical or whirling speed of a shaft

The speed, at which the shaft runs so that the additional deflection of the shaft from the axis of rotation becomes infinite, is known as critical or whirling speed.

A cantilever beam of cross section area ‘A’, moment of Inertia I and length ‘L’ is having natural frequency ω1. If the beam is accidentally broken into two halves, the natural frequency of the remaining cantilever beam ω2 will be such that 

  1. ω2 < ω1
  2. ω2 > ω1
  3. ω2 = ω1
  4. Cannot be obtained from the given data

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : ω2 > ω1

Undamped Free Vibration Question 14 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

The natural frequency is given by:

\(\omega = \sqrt {\frac{k_{eq}}{m}} =\sqrt {\frac{g}{\delta }} \;\)

Calculation:

Given:

L1 = L, \(L_2=\frac{L_1}{2}\)

For cantilever beam:

\(\begin{array}{l} \delta = \frac{{P{L^3}}}{{3EI}}\\ \omega = \sqrt {\frac{g}{\delta }} = \sqrt {\frac{{3EIg}}{{P{L^3}}}} \Rightarrow \omega \propto \sqrt {\frac{1}{{{L^3}}}} \\ \frac{{{\omega _2}}}{{{\omega _1}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{L_1^3}}{{L_2^3}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{{L^3}}}{{{{\left( {\frac{L}{2}} \right)}^3}}}} = 2\sqrt2 \\ \therefore\;{\omega _2} > {\omega _1} \end{array}\)

The static deflection of the shaft under the flywheel is 25 mm. Assuming g = 10m/s2, the critical speed in rad/s will be:  

  1. 30
  2. 10
  3. 40
  4. 20

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 20

Undamped Free Vibration Question 15 Detailed Solution

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Concept

Critical speed

Whirling speed or Critical speed of a shaft is defined as the speed at which a rotating shaft will tend to vibrate violently in the transverse direction if the shaft rotates in horizontal direction. In other words, the whirling or critical speed is the speed at which resonance occurs.

Critical speed of the shaft:

\(\omega = \sqrt {\frac{g}{{\rm{Δ}}}} \)

Calculation:

Given:

Δ =  25 mm

\(\omega = \sqrt {\frac{g}{{\rm{Δ}}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{10}}{{25 \times {{10}^{ - 3}}}}} = \sqrt {\frac{{10000}}{25}} =\sqrt {400} =20 \)  rad/sec

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